Bentley on Brecht: Songs and Poems of Bertolt Brecht

Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) was an important German poet and playwright in the second quarter of the 20th century. This recording of selected poems and songs is performed by theater critic, singer, and teacher Eric Bentley, who is considered to be a preeminent expert on Brecht. Eighteen of the 19 selections in this recording were translated and adapted by Bentley, who also plays piano and harmonium. Of interest are the performances of two songs from “The Threepenny Opera”, perhaps Brecht’s best known musical: “Mack the Knife” (the last three stanzas only) and “Ballad of Sexual Submissiveness”, sometimes known as the “Ballad of Sexual Dependency”.

The liner notes include texts and musical notation.

Track Listing

101	About Poor B.B. Eric Bentley	03:19
102	Ballad of the Dead Soldier Eric Bentley	05:24
103	Memory of Marie Eric Bentley	03:34
104	Doomed Generations Eric Bentley	01:10
105	A Visit to the Exiled Poets Eric Bentley	02:43
106	Easter Sunday, 1935 Eric Bentley	01:37
107	The Ballad of Marie Sanders Eric Bentley	02:31
108	To the Little Radio Eric Bentley	01:59
109	To My Countrymen Eric Bentley	02:32
201	Hymn of the Great Baal and Orge's Hymn Eric Bentley	04:16
202	A Man's a Man Eric Bentley	03:09
203	Mack the Knife Eric Bentley	01:57
204	Ballad of Sexual Submissiveness Eric Bentley	02:36
205	Supply and Demand Eric Bentley	04:12
206	That's How It Should Be Eric Bentley	01:41
207	Song of a German Mother Eric Bentley	02:52
208	Song of Mother Courage Eric Bentley	02:22
209	Ballad of the Wise Woman and the Soldier Eric Bentley	04:56
210	Keiner Oder Alle! Eric Bentley	03:12